CMR Insurance is a type of cover which allows hauliers and couriers to legally carry goods within Europe. CMR Insurance ensures goods carriers are compliant with the CMR Convention – ‘Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road’, in full – an EU law which requires goods carriers to produce a CMR consignment at customs and when unloading.
Although it is slightly confusing as they are similarly named, CMR Insurance differs from the CMR Convention, in that CMR Insurance ensures hauliers and couriers are legally able to transport goods in countries in which CMR Convention applies. The CMR Convention has been ratified by 55 European states, so if you’re carrying a load within Europe, the chances are you need CMR Insurance.
CMR Insurance fulfils a similar function to that of Goods in Transit Insurance, in that it provides cover against theft and damage for any goods being transported. However, while Goods in Transit cover is strongly recommended rather than compulsory, CMR Insurance is a recommendation for UK couriers and hauliers carrying goods within any of the EU states which have signed up to the CMR Convention. UK couriers and hauliers working solely within the UK do not require CMR Insurance.
